Objective:
1. Characterize relationships between the host genome and variation in response to vaccination against viral pathogens included in commercial vaccines for respiratory disease.
2. Determine the nature and robustness of the effects of genomic regions with the largest associations to BVDV type 2 vaccination with response to other viral vaccines.
3. Characterize changes in the expressed IgG/IgM antibody repertoire in response to vaccination and challenge, identify determinants shared among animals, and correlate variation in repertoire response with animal genotype.

Approach:
Viral neutralization assays, a measure of B cell response to viral vaccination, in combination with SNPchip genotyping will be used so that whole genome prediction can be developed to allow producers to select for cattle that are “vaccine responsive”. These will allow for the simultaneous detection of genomic regions that control genetic variation in antibody response against BVDV type 1, IBR, BRSV or IP3. We will utilize a novel antibody sequencing technique to characterize the effect of modified-live, killed and intra nasally delivered vaccines against BVDV type 1 and 2, IBR, BRSV or IP3 and subsequent BVDV type 2 viral challenge on antibody production. This same sequencing technique will be used to determine the impact of identified genomic regions on antibody production in response to viral vaccination.